By Tim Debelius
Builders must aggressively manage costs to survive, and even thrive, in
a challenging market. Interest rates and land availability are usually
outside of their control, but builders can reduce costs and improve
efficiency by optimizing their building practices, especially for
large-cost areas such as framing. Software is now available that helps
you design an integrated plan for wall, floor and roof framing, helping
improve framing performance while reducing material waste.
According to the National Association of Homebuilders, the structural
frame is the largest component of housing construction costs, accounting
for approximately 20 percent of the expense. Builders are looking for
ways to use both conventional lumber and engineered wood in the most
structurally sound and cost efficient ways, while saving time and labor
and reducing callbacks. To ensure that they are using the right types
of materials in the right places - and just the right amounts - they are
looking to dealers and suppliers who offer specific design tools for
structural framing.
If you look at the websites of the major wood structural framing
manufacturers and third party vendors, you'll find a range of available
software packages for designing residential structural framing. While
there are a number of tools for floor systems, roof systems or wall
systems, software to integrate all framing components together has not
been available until now. Historically, the homebuilding and lumber and
building materials (LBM) industries have approached the design of the
structural frame as a set of individual systems - roof components on top
of wall components on top of floor components.
However, designing the frame as one overall system offers tremendous
opportunities to reduce job-site waste and improve structural
performance. When the structural frame is viewed as a whole, LBM
dealers can work with builders to provide an integrated framing design
that helps ensure the structure is solid and that all components work
well together. In addition, by evaluating all of the materials and
individual pieces that go into the frame, dealers can identify material
efficiencies better than if they separately focus on roofs, walls and
floors.
Software is now available that allows dealers to support builders by
specifying optimized combinations of residential engineered wood
products and dimension lumber in layouts for floors, walls and roofs -
all in a single platform. Three dimensional modeling, state-of-the-art
CAD capabilities, and customizable design tools provide all of the power
needed to specify products and track vertical loads from the ridge to
the foundation. Using these tools, builders are able to walk into
dealer locations and obtain a more complete and integrated framing
solution - a true "whole house" frame.
For example, iLevel by Weyerhaeuser's Javelin(tm) design software -
powered by OptiFrame - can quickly and accurately transform a builder's
drawings into detailed framing layouts that specify the amounts and
types of materials needed throughout the structural frame. The software
allows for analysis of vertical loads across roofs, walls and floors to
help ensure a strong and solid frame, while at the same time helping to
avoid overbuilding.
Such modern whole house software helps builders work out framing
solutions during the design phase, rather than during construction. For
example, the frame can be examined from all angles using detailed
construction drawings and built-in analysis tools can be used to
identify where there are building conflicts. Where there are conflicts,
the software will recommend a solution, allowing the builder and dealer
to make design changes before materials are ordered, cut or delivered.
The result is fewer framing errors, reduced risk of costly on-site
changes to plans, and more efficient use of building materials.
In short, today's software tools are enabling suppliers and dealers to
work together more closely in meeting the needs of builders. When
margins are tight, or when a builder is looking for an edge over the
competition, framing software can help make the difference.
Tim Debelius is the Marketing Manager - Software Tools and E-Business
for iLevel by Weyerhaeuser. www.iLevel.com, (888) iLevel8,
(888-453-8358) |
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